Does the size of the crowd you draw to your work indicate the depth of its value? No. A big resounding “no.” Our true value is not measured in book sales or crowd sizes, promotions received or money made. The sole value of our work is in the depth of the impact it makes, the lives it changes. When your idea “turns the page” for someone, or gives them courage, or opens up new insights and encourages them to make new choices – and they take action – that’s when you change lives.
One life changed is a major impact
You’ve touched and changed more lives than you know. A smile when a person was sad, words of recognition of the spark someone shows, simply being in someone’s life as support. There are so many ways we have impact that seem to be unimportant because we don’t see how far-reaching our impact is.
The difference between process and purpose
I recently did a shamanic journey to discover my Soul’s Purpose. My partner in the shamanic course we’re both taking did that same journey for me too. We both got versions of the same theme but I realized that mine was more about my process while hers was about my overarching purpose.
We need to be aware of both. We need to understand our overarching purpose and then make certain the process we choose is supporting that.
My process is to explore the unseen world, write about what I discover and share it where others can find it. My purpose is to help someone brighten the light they bring to the world.
We all want to change hearts
Whatever the form our giving takes, we do it because we’re called to express ourselves in a particular manner and we want it to contribute in some way to the lives of others.
The person who builds homes helps build a family. The person who stocks shelves helps feed a family, as does the farmer and trucker and… We all have far-reaching impact. We just have to realize it.
Begin with the way you do your work
If you continually do your best work, are your best self and keep encouraging yourself to evolve, you’ll deepen your service. I have to write what I write and I have to share it, whether anyone reads it or not.
I hope they do. Actually, I know they do. I hope they find themselves changed, but my need to do this work is absolute.
I hear the stories of musicians who sing in any venue to any size crowd for years just so they can be heard. Then they go on to win The Voice.
There’s the African war orphan who saw a picture of a ballerina and knew that was what she needed and wanted to be, even though she didn’t know what it was. She was the last to be adopted in her orphanage but the woman who adopted her helped her realize her dream.
Michaela DePrince went from war orphan to major ballerina. The women who helped her had no idea how far-reaching her impact was when she helped this young girl realize her potential.
We don’t always get to impact a life in such a profound manner. But then, we never know, do we?
There are so many stories of people being changed by a mentor. Sometimes it’s that they were inspired by a person’s work, sometimes it’s something someone said or did in ordinary life. Inspiration and the power to change are everywhere in every moment.
Crowd size does not matter.
Changing a life does.
To Sing a Deeper Song Consider:
What Seeds Are You Planting For the Future?
What Life Decisions Changed Your Direction?